Welcome!
Dear Friend:
Darius Elias was sworn in as the MLA for Vuntut Gwitchin on October 21st, 2006.
Mr. Elias is committed to building a healthy, strong community. He puts people first.
Mr. Elias was born on March 17th, 1972, and raised on the Old Crow flats by his grandmother Mary Kassi. Darius was chosen as a member of Canada's Youth Round Table for the Environment, a highlight of his youth and was given the opportunity to attend the United Nations conference on the Environment in New York City as Canada's youth representative.
Darius graduated with a Diploma in Renewable Resources Management and a certificate in First Nation Business from Yukon College. He spent nine years as a senior park warden in the Vuntut National Park before running for public office. Along with his wife Tina and 4 children, Bohdi, Johnny, Rachael and Heather, Darius maintains homes in Whitehorse and Old Crow, Yukon.
Mr. Elias lived the majority of his youth out on the land in north Yukon and as a result has gained extensive cultural and land based teachings. His grandmother, now passed on, said to Mr. Elias when he left home to attend post secondary college, "Tell them you got a report card paper from crow flats!"
He has witnessed first hand the complexities and the challenges facing the natural world in northern Yukon. It is with this firsthand knowledge and global insight that Mr. Elias has been able to contribute to his public role as the advocate and critic for the Environment.
Mr. Elias has for many years participated in the public awareness efforts, largely lead by the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, to permanently protect the calving grounds of the porcupine caribou herd within the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. This responsibility includes traveling to the lower 48 United States and educating the American public and convincing the United States Congress to vote to protect the calving grounds forever from industrial development namely big oil development.
Mr. Elias has other significant accomplishments including being chairman of the Vuntut Gwitchin Trust, a co-chair of the Fishing Branch protected area local planning team, the Vuntut National Park management planning team, co-chair of North Yukon Land Use Planning Commission, and member of the North Yukon Fish and Wildlife management team.
"I hope to be an accomplished leader who communicates with enthusiasm a vision for the future and enlists the help of others to carry it through." D. Elias
As one of Yukon's youngest Members of the Yukon Legislative Assembly, Mr. Elias' youth and energy is an asset. He recognizes his responsibility to be a strong voice on behalf of his constituents in his isolated community of Old Crow, Yukon to ensure they have the necessary resources and comparable public programs and services to that of other Yukon communities.
"If we are truly to accomplish our goals and vision as a community we must resolve to tackle the issues and problems we face, as a collective." D. Elias
Darius Elias brings extraordinary experience for his young age and a passion and perspective to his role as Liberal MLA for Vuntut Gwitchin.
This interactive website is one of the many ways I continue to reach out to you as your representative and also another symbol of my commitment to be open and accessible.
I hope that this website will provide you with the opportunity to learn more about the Vuntut Gwitchin riding. If you have any suggestions or comments or just want to say Hi, just send me an email! I invite you to come back often to look for updates and changes.
Enjoy your visit!